RealGM

It seems that most posters consider Kobe to be the best player in the game today. My question is if both players played up to their potential for their careers, who would be the better player out of Kobe and Vince Carter?

Kobe

Carter. He could have been as good as Jordan if he lived up to his potential. Potential and talent don't mean anything if you don't have a good work ethic, a heart, and a passion for the game.

Vince easy.

He's a better athlete, a better shooter, and has great natural playmaking ability.

That Kobe is so much better is a testament to his work ethic, and to Vince's.

Vince, no question. This guy is the epitome of lazy. He hasn't worked on his game since he worked on improving his shot.


His off season work ethic is pathetic as well. It was WELL known in Toronto that he would use the training camp to get into shape. Remember when Arenas posted on his blog that a couple of years ago he saw Vince RIGHT before the start of training camp and Vince told him he didn't work out once that summer.

Kobe knows how to maximize his talents, Vince has more natural ability/talent, but he doesn't maximize half.

The results so far are pretty much what I was expecting. Both have amazing talents and ability, but I think Vince had more. Kobe just has more passion and drive to be the best though.

I still think Kobe. Vince was more athletically gifted, but Kobe had more talent when it came to the mental part of the game which is at least as important.

DJ Mbenga is more athletically gifted than Dirk, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't include other gifts as well (the Vince/Kobe comparison isn't like this, but just wanted to throw out an extreme to show what I'm talking about).

McGrady Too bad about his back.

With all due respect to the OP, any time we actually take a survey or have a mock draft, posters have considered Tim Duncan to be the best player in the league since Shaq started aging; with LeBron James possibly having taken over this year. Kobe has been number two, not number one, for most posters although people constantly make the same statement you just made.

If both played to their potential AND Vince never suffered through those series of injuries, then I'd choose Vince.

A lot of people don't like to admit it but after their favorite players suffer through a big-time injury, generally speaking some part of their game is never the same (for example: Kobe isn't as quick as he used to be thanks to that knee surgery or whatever he had a few seasons back, I'm sure there are some KBL's that will kill me for saying this, but it's the truth).

penbeast0 wrote:With all due respect to the OP, any time we actually take a survey or have a mock draft, posters have considered Tim Duncan to be the best player in the league since Shaq started aging; with LeBron James possibly having taken over this year. Kobe has been number two, not number one, for most posters although people constantly make the same statement you just made.

No idea how other people see it, but for me--Kobe's the best individual talent in the league. If I had to take one player to win a game or a season, it'd probably be him.

On the other hand, if I had to take a player to build a team around... I'd take Lebron. It's nothing against Kobe's basketball skills--just his people skills. That's where he needs work.




Oh yes, and Phil Jackson says "Kobe Bryant is the Greatest Of All Time."

Vince for sure.

Just comparing them now their numbers are virtually the same.

Regular Season

Kobe Bryant
25.0 ppg, 45.3% fg, 33.9% 3pt FG, 5.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.9 tpg, 23.6 per


Vince Carter
23.8 ppg, 44.7% fg, 37.5% 3 pt FG, 5.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.8 bpg, 2.4 tpg, 22.0 per




Playoffs

Kobe Bryant
23.3 ppg, 43.9% fg, 33.1% 3pt FG, 4.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.7 bpg, 2.9 tpg

Vince Carter
25.9 ppg, 41.8% fg, 33.2% 3 pt FG, 6.9 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.9 bpg, 2.7 tpg

JordansBulls wrote:Vince for sure.

Just comparing them now their numbers are virtually the same.

Regular Season

Kobe Bryant
25.0 ppg, 45.3% fg, 33.9% 3pt FG, 5.3 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.9 tpg, 23.6 per


Vince Carter
23.8 ppg, 44.7% fg, 37.5% 3 pt FG, 5.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.8 bpg, 2.4 tpg, 22.0 per




Playoffs

Kobe Bryant
23.3 ppg, 43.9% fg, 33.1% 3pt FG, 4.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.7 bpg, 2.9 tpg 3 Championships

Vince Carter
25.9 ppg, 41.8% fg, 33.2% 3 pt FG, 6.9 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.9 bpg, 2.7 tpg

fixed

Optimism Prime wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



No idea how other people see it, but for me--Kobe's the best individual talent in the league. If I had to take one player to win a game or a season, it'd probably be him.

On the other hand, if I had to take a player to build a team around... I'd take Lebron. It's nothing against Kobe's basketball skills--just his people skills. That's where he needs work.




Oh yes, and Phil Jackson says "Kobe Bryant is the Greatest Of All Time."

When did Phil say this? link?

tracey_nice wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


When did Phil say this? link?

he means Phil Jackson the poster.

Derekman wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



he means Phil Jackson the poster.

lol, classic.

kobe. because i'm 13.

Vince, no contest.

If both guys played to their potential, you're controlling for mental fortitude and work ethic, desire, all that.

On the basis of natural shooting ability and physicality, Vince would be superior because he's more athletic and naturally stronger and tougher to move around while possessing a much more dangerous outside shot.

tsherkin wrote:Vince, no contest.

If both guys played to their potential, you're controlling for mental fortitude and work ethic, desire, all that.

On the basis of natural shooting ability and physicality, Vince would be superior because he's more athletic and naturally stronger and tougher to move around while possessing a much more dangerous outside shot.

Why would you say that?

but defense sets them apart where kobe is miles ahead of him in that department